Rules According to Men

Top two ------ (1)Yes and No... are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question. (2)And if something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you angry, We actually meant the other one.

Title: Puyallup Washington: Shipping and Packing Is Never Just Shipping and Packing! BuffaloShips, Puyallup Washington, creating a new system for the community. Shipping should never be just shipping. Shipping is just one solution, to the business needs and consumer needs of a community. As times have changed, business has changed, economy has changed, solutions for people need to change. BuffaloShips has changed with the times as well. BuffaloShips, is having a grand opening of sorts. Starting with brand new ownership, with a new vision, new products, and new services for the community. BuffaloShips, first and foremost understands the community in which it serves. This is not a "name" coming into a town looking solely at market share and profitability. It is locally owned, locally managed, by an owner that knows his community. The Location itself is a staple in the community. That is the focal point, as BuffaloShips evolves and grows so will the community businesses and its consumers. Shipping should never be just about shipping. In fact its services should go far beyond, mailboxes, packing material, and tracking numbers. Although that is critical, Read More

Miracles ?

When you ask for a miracle, pay attention...you may be receiving "instructions" and do not even realize it. DASH

YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS...  (unbelievable? - click here)

TOP 45 LESSONS LEARNED -

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of "The Plain Dealer" , Cleveland, Ohio "To celebrate growing older, She wrote the 45 lessons life taught her. It is the most-requested column She ever written." 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Try your best to Stay in touch . 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.. 9.. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.. 19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?' 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come. 43.. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

SMART PHONES ARE TAKING OVER REGULAR COMPUTER USE..

GOOGLE REPORTS 

SMART PHONES ARE TAKING OVER (click here)

Relationship? / SAY SORRY SOMETIMES...

 

click here

ISO SORRY.COM

MARKETING 101 ..A must

Mobile Devices on the rise, Ride the wave...

40 Million US Mobile Users Access Social Networks Every Day

The number of Americans who log in to their favorite social networking sites has grown by 37% over the past year, according to a study released today from comScore, an online traffic tracker. In August alone, 72.2 million Americans accessed social networking sites or blogs on their mobile device.
http://www.mobilemoneytips.com/

WHO PUT THAT OBSTACLE THERE ?

The solution to overcoming obstacles is to always remember that success starts by giving yourself the freedom to fail !

CLICK - >WITNESS FAILURE...

CHANGE?

Start by getting over your (old self)
and bring out the NEW YOU

Here’s how:

1. Shift your thinking:

First, know that there is a power greater than what meets the visual eye. Then, Just assume this will work. No, better yet, expect it will work! It’s just as easy to assume it will, as it is to assume that it won’t - well, that may not be true, since you probably have more evidence to confirm the latter. But you can do it. Use your imagination (go ahead, give it a try); see (in your mind) all of the changes you wish could happen for you. This change business takes effort, and it’s as much psychological as it is physical.

2. Just 15 minutes a day:

Truly, if you walk, run, cycle or something that is a means of exercise (and do it with a powerful effort) for 15 minutes – today – you will feel the accomplishment, you will have plenty of time to do everything else that seems to get in the way of your workouts, and, your body will change.

3. Only do today:

All you need to do is what you have agreed to do today. Please stop thinking about how you will keep this up – just do your workout and eat your meal plan as decided for today.

4. Nip it in the bud:

Rather than cutting back on foods that "call to you," cut them out entirely. I can tell you from experience (I am a sugar lover, especially cake, cookies, really all sweets), and when I try to cut back – it doesn’t work. When I take it out (for me, one week off sugar today, yeah), I feel great. Now sugar may not be your thing, and I am not saying that I will never eat sugary delicious desserts again, but for today – no sweets for me, thank you.

5. Five Happy Morning Minutes with a prayer:

Happiness is all in your head! So, the key to happiness is thinking happy thoughts – period. Most of us know this (I think) but still give so little time to achieving it, well, I guess that’s the American way - work hard, make money, find a new diet and wonder why we’re not happy. Why not go straight for happy? Just sit quietly for five minutes in the morning, say a prayer or meditate and think only of things that make you feel happy, and your day will be sweeter. Guaranteed

6. INVEST IN KNOWLEDGE, FEED YOUR BRAIN

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
- Calvin Coolidge

So how do you know when to press on vs. when to give up?

There is a market 100 Times larger than the internet coming alive right before our eyes

Mobile marketing is growing rapidly at the moment and there are a lot of opportunities – especially with so little competition; Go To MOBILEMONEYTIPS.com

Realizing the dream

How to successfully buy a small business

Have entrepreneurial aspirations? Thinking of turning your dream of starting your own business into reality? Want to do what you love for a career and be your own boss? If so, you're in good company. According to a Yahoo Inc. poll, two-thirds of Americans have the desire to start their own business.

Bringing that desire to fruition can be challenging, especially without the right know-how. Most small business buyers have never purchased a business before, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Going into business for yourself will undoubtedly require large amounts of commitment and drive to overcome fear of the unknown, but keeping these four critical factors in mind can help ensure success when investing time and money into a small business.

1. Use online resources

The easiest way to learn about your options is to research what’s available on an online business marketplace. Newspaper classifieds include a limited amount of the businesses for sale in one immediate area, while an online marketplace is more expansive. This kind of site offers a database full of available businesses in any area, which means that you can search locally or anywhere in the country if you are considering a change in location.

Online marketplaces also offer a number of tools buyers can use to find the perfect business. A “valuation report” can provide estimates of fair selling and buying prices for a business, based on comparable businesses and chosen geographic area, gross income and cash flow ranges. For example, if someone were thinking of buying a bagel shop, they’d be able to run a report on the average costs of buying that particular kind of establishment in a given area.

Alternatively, buyers seeking the help of a business broker instead of buying independently can search through a database of thousands of brokers.

2. Be savvy in dealing with sellers

Once you’ve located a business that interests you, contact the business owner or the representing broker – whoever placed the ad. Make sure the ad has answered your biggest questions about the business, such as initial asking price, rent costs, length of lease, number of employees and past performance. When asking about price, it is most important to focus on how much cash the seller requires for a down payment. You’ll naturally be curious about the asking price and how much money you can potentially make – which is certainly important - but determining the down payment amount first is the key in knowing whether or not you can or want to continue the buying process.

Make a list of any questions not answered, and be sure to get all the information you need from the seller. For example, it is a good idea to ask the reason why the business is being sold. Also, be sure to ask the seller to provide documentation for any numbers provided.

If the business seems like a good fit after receiving the answers, ask to view the business firsthand. If possible, visit the business without identifying yourself as a potential buyer to make sure you are satisfied with its appearance and location.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate. Businesses generally sell for up to 25 percent of the seller’s initial asking price, so there’s no need to settle for numbers presented to you at the start without question.

3. Following through with due diligence

Once you’ve thoroughly communicated with a seller and all the information checks out, it can be tempting to want to speed up the process and sign a contract as quickly as possible. While the prospect of finally owning a business is exciting, there is still a need to work out contingencies. This process is known as “due diligence.”

Although the numbers might sound good to you, it would be a good idea to bring in outside professionals to validate them. A lawyer can assist with all the necessary paperwork and notice any discrepancies in the information that you might have overlooked. An accountant can review the figures the seller has provided and make sure they make sense.

Don’t be alarmed by any minor discrepancies – they can usually be resolved. Outside professionals will be likely to advise you to shy away from the deal unless everything seems perfect. Advising to buy a business puts a great deal of responsibility on them, which they probably won’t want. As long as you get them to check out the numbers and paperwork and everything still feels right, it is safe to go ahead with the deal.

Before signing though, it is wise to have the seller agree to advise you at no charge for a certain amount of time (30 days in person and perhaps another 30 days over the phone is a fair amount). This will ensure that the previous owner will teach you what you need to know to run the business. If you require additional consultation, you might need to offer the seller a fee for his or her time and advice.

4. Embrace lifestyle change

Now that you’ve got the business, how do you make it work?

First-time small business owners will likely find the job unlike anything they’ve ever done. Running a small business is rarely – if ever – a nine-to-five commitment. Responsibilities are likely to extend to nights and weekends. At the same time, small business owners often discover a new sense of freedom and purpose. They won’t have to deal with a boss, their schedules – while less predictable – can be more flexible and a great sense of pride can come from seeing the business through to greatness.

Understanding and expecting the changes, perks and challenges buying a business will present can have a significant impact on its performance. It’s impossible to be prepared for everything, but going into a venture having adequately thought out the process – including making use of valuable online tools and being proactive in dealing with sellers – can be the key in turning your new business into a dream come true.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) | Video on TED.com

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) | Video on TED.com

CRAWL BEFORE YOU WALK...

You have to crawl before you can walk!

How many times have you heard that phrase when learning something new?

The problem is that many times we’re too impatient to spend the time crawling in order to walk. We tend to overcomplicate things by focusing on how much we want what we’re trying to crawl towards and on what short cuts can be found to get there.

If we could put the same effort into crawling, we’d get where we’re headed faster and with less frustration.

Crawling Backwards

Take for example, Kaden's been working on crawling for a while and finally figured it out. Now we’re in trouble!

He see something he wanted, put his head down, and start crawling. The only problem was that he couldn’t coordinate his arms and legs so he’d end up pushing backwards! Sound familiar? You’re trying as hard as you can but feel like you’re moving away from what you want, instead of towards it.

I know he would get frustrated, especially when he ended literally up backing herself into a corner, scooting backwards until he was wedged under a chair or in a corner. But Mother Nature prevailed, he kept at it until he finally figured it out.


It’s not only tots with steely resolve that figure out crawling; sooner or later most babies learn to crawl and then walk.

But that doesn’t mean that learning to crawl or walk are inconsequential events. Those babies should be our accomplishment heroes! They should be the motivation for anyone that wants to accomplish anything. They don’t know how to crawl, they don’t even know what crawling is, they just go for it.

Don’t Worry, Just Crawl

Little babies don’t over complicate crawling, they see something they want on the other side of the room and go after it. Imagine for a second if a baby endured as much anguish and delay as we do over the things we want in life.

Imagine, if instead of crawling, babies spent their time worrying about questions like these:

* Why should I crawl?
* Is it too soon to crawl?
* How fast should I crawl?
* What style of crawling should I use?
* Do I need a crawling plan?
* Should I hire a crawling coach?
* Do I really have time to crawl?
* What will people think if I crawl?
* Why are they already crawling and I’m not?
* What if it hurts to crawl?
* What if I can’t crawl all the way across the room?
* Is it a waste of time to crawl?
* Can I get someone else to crawl for me?
* Am I really the crawling type?
* What if I don’t like crawling once I start?
* Do I have to crawl every day?
* What if they crawl faster than me?
* I wonder if I’m good enough to crawl?
* Maybe I should watch someone else crawl first..
* What happens if I run into an obstacle while crawling?
* Will my crawling take away from my time doing other stuff?
* Is crawling overrated?
* Will anyone even care if I crawl?
* Who will crawl with me?
* Isn’t there another way than crawling?
* Has anyone ever crawled before?
* What happened to the last person that crawled?
* What’s plan B if crawling doesn’t work out?
* What’s the worst that could happen if I don’t crawl?
* Maybe I should wait until tomorrow to try and crawl…
* Where am I crawling to anyways?
* Crawling sure sounds like a lot of work…
* What are the dangers of crawling?
* How will I know when I’m REALLY crawling?

I could go on all day but you get the picture. If you’re human, you probably know what I’m talking about. You can share your “favorite” crawling excuses below in the comments below if you’d like.

What Will They Think?

I remember one day I came home from work and opened the door to see my wife’s friend’s baby “crawling” in the most unusual way that I’d ever seen. I can’t really describe it; she was sitting up, using both her heels and the palms of her hands to scoot around. I felt like I was watching a creature out of Star Wars scamper around our living room.

I could tell her mom was a little embarrassed by this unique form of crawling. I’ll admit, it was a little strange, but guess what. The baby didn’t care, she had figured out her own way and was getting exactly where she wanted to go. Not only that, the little girl could book it too!

So who’s to say how you should crawl? What crawling excuses are you fretting over? What if you just started crawling and figured it out along the way?

Crawl baby crawl!

The majority of this post was mentioned on Twitter by Darlene Hull, Darlene Hull. Darlene Hull said: RT @MoneySmart Crawling Towards Success Baby!: You have to crawl before you can walk! How .. http://bit.ly/5srNwb [...]

THE HARD CELL - CELLPHONES AND TEXT

Guest Post)
February 08, 2010 - With more than 80 percent of Americans saying they "never leave home without them," cell phones are becoming ideal mechanisms for engaging consumers with targeted text messages, special offers and surveys.

With more than 80 percent of Americans saying they "never leave home without them," cell phones are becoming ideal mechanisms for engaging consumers with targeted text messages, special offers and surveys.

"This sheer volume [of cell phone owners], coupled with enormous marketing potential that is just starting to be realized, means marketers need to understand as much as possible about how people use their phones, how they feel about them -- and what more they want from them," said Steve Garton, head of media for global research firm Synovate, Chicago, which surveyed 8,000 urban mobile phone owners last year in 11 markets worldwide.

Of those surveyed, Americans were among the most likely to own at least two cell phones (33 percent of respondents). More than one-fourth of the U.S. respondents said they use their phones for e-mailing; a similar number use them to browse the Internet; and a solid 15 percent said they access social networks via their mobile phones.

Four-store ShortStop of Boulder, Colo., which offers its proprietary gift cards as a mobile payment option through a standalone Verifone terminal, is launching a mobile loyalty program.

The small chain allows customers to accumulate reward points and receive promotional messages via text. "We can offer loyal customers specific promotions or let them know, for instance, when gasoline prices are going to rise and urge them to come in before that happens," said co-owner Jeff Dageenakis. "We won't bombard people with texts because I know I wouldn't like that."

Dageenakis has a point. In December, a woman sued Burger King for $5 million for repeatedly texting her "cryptic" messages, despite her texting the company to stop.

Still, ShortStop's loyalty program will be offered only as a mobile-only application for the first few months, then made available via plastic card. To boost the chain's mobile payment option, customers who pay through a mobile gift card will earn double loyalty points, Dageenakis said.

The retailer is hoping to migrate both the payment and loyalty programs to a near-field-communication platform in the future.

In another mobile marketing campaign, Rutter's Farm Stores is inviting customers to sign up for promotional text messages on the chain's Web site. The York, Pa.-based retailer also unveiled anew iPhone application that updates gasoline prices and lets users know the closest location's price. The app allows customers to find the closest Rutter's store based on city and state or zip code, as well as get directions from their current location.

Customers can tap into real-time gasoline price information and find a station with a particular fuel type, such as diesel or kerosene, or locate the nearest 24-hour Rutter's Deli or store with free Wi-Fi. The iPhone application also identifies which locations have car washes.

Users of the app receive exclusive promotions, and iPhone users may sign up to receive instant alerts about special promotions and deals via iPhone push notifications.

Such mobile marketing applications can have an immediate impact on sales, industry watchers say. One reason: Consumers tend to classify the mobile phone differently than mainstream media such as television, radio, print, outdoor or even the Internet, according to the Synovate survey. "Most people do not think of phones as a media platform at all," Garton said.

Last December, some 200 7-Eleven stores in San Diego tested a campaign that encouraged customers to text the word "FAST" or "RAPIDO" to "72579" to receive up to one free Slurpee, Big Gulp, coffee or iced coffee per day at participating 7-Eleven stores.

To redeem the offer, text message recipients with Internet access on their phones were able to click through to a screen displaying a UPC bar code that could be scanned at the cash register. In other cases, 7-Eleven sales associates entered a numeric code at the cash register. Consumers also were able to opt-in to future texts with 7-Eleven news and offers.

"7-Eleven appeals to customers who are busy and on the go," said Rita Bargerhuff, 7-Eleven's vice president and chief marketing officer. "Our marketing programs try to reach them where they are -- by radio and outdoor when they're in the car, at movies and sporting events, or online at Facebook, Twitter and Slurpee.com. Mobile marketing is the next step to reach our target customers -- the Millennials who don't go anywhere without their phones."

Jeff Morris, CEO of Alon USA, operator of 7-Eleven franchisee Southwest Convenience Stores, recently told Convenience Store News that one of the chain's most successful promotions centered on a large billboard message that offered a coupon to mobile customers who responded to a text number. "Within hours, we had thousands of people sign up to get the promo coupon sent to their phone," Morris said. The chain kept participating customer data and sends a text message with a new coupon to their phones once a week.

Mobile couponing will triple globally by 2014, according to a new study by Juniper Research called "Mobile Coupons & NFC (Near Field Communication) Smart Posters: Strategies, Applications & Forecasts 2009-2014." The research showed there will be more than 300 million users of mobile coupons within the next five years.

As more and more people acquire smart phones, users want to exploit the improved capabilities of their devices with new features and services, especially when it means saving money, the study noted. However, some users may be reluctant to share their mobile number, fearing spam and fake coupons.

Earlier this year, 7-Eleven Sweden launched an iPhone application that combined a store locator with coupons for free coffee and biscotti. Now, the country's 7-Eleven operation conducts surveys via mobile phone.

The 7-Eleven iPhone application also displays the latest promotion from a participating manufacturer -- for example a free pack of a newly introduced gum product. Customers who enter their mobile phone numbers get a mobile coupon redeemable at the nearest 7-Eleven convenience store. Upon redeeming that coupon, consumers are sent a mini survey to their phone.

Until NFC-enabled phones are ubiquitous and/or more retailers are able to redeem dynamic mobile barcodes or integrate promotional codes into the point of sale, offers will have to be printed out at home, said Andrew Datars, vice president of product management with Empathica, a customer-loyalty firm based in Alpharetta, Ga.

In a related strategy, casual dining operator Rock Bottom Restaurants Inc. had a positive experience using Empathica's SMS-Text Survey to poll customers at its Old Chicago restaurants. Last year, customers in 99 Old Chicago locations were asked to text their e-mail addresses and then answer a Web survey for a chance to win a prize. In 20 days, more than 12,500 customers responded with their e-mail addresses. Those customers were sent an e-mail message with a link to a standard Web-based customer experience survey; more than 2,000 of which were completed.

"[The] program provided us with not only a way to increase our online guest experience survey completions, but also with an instant feedback network that gave us insight into our guests' opinions," said Gretchen Paules, vice president of marketing. "The tool also delivered a solid, cost-effective acquisition platform for our e-mail programs."

Guest Post : By Barbara Grondin Francella

Empower Yourself... Inspire Others...

COMING SOON

THE 8 BALL ZONE - Ask a question in your mind ...

Guest Post

Once the fire inside me would burn like the California Sierra. With the belief that I was invincible, I could stop bullets.

Suddenly, life snuffed it out! The raging furnace had been reduced to the flickering flame of a small candle; with the wind blowing.

Then silently, alone, in the wee hours of the night, the flame went out.
Like a genie on a flying carpet, Grace flew in on a gentle breeze.

Enough breath to resurrect the flame inside.
Now fire trucks are powerless.

I'm on Fire.

Remember...“Even a half lit, stained cigarette butt can burn down a forest.”

KEEP BURNING.
__J.B.G